Ten (almost) unknown destinations in Rio de Janeiro to escape the obvious

We know why the state of Rio de Janeiro is known worldwide: Sugar Loaf, Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana, Paraty, Búzios, and many other points that attract tourists.

All these places undeniably deserve a visit, but what if you want to take a different tour of the region? Where to go? What to do?

Therefore, we have prepared a guide to help you organize this trip.

We only mention secret places in Rio de Janeiro, little known by ordinary tourists, but that doesn’t leave anything to be desired regarding natural beauty.

Do you want to know? Just continue reading!

Mangaratiba

Among the places to visit in Rio de Janeiro is Mangaratiba, an environment that houses more than 30 islands and 100 beaches.

The place has green and very transparent waters, connecting to other famous destinations of Rio, such as Ilha Grande.

But there you can discover the daily life of fishermen and enjoy both urbanized and deserted beaches.

Itacuruçá

Itacuruçá needs to be on any list of different places to visit in Rio de Janeiro, as it is a city full of islands that enchants for its boat trips.

If you are looking for more structured environments and distant from shopping centers, this is the ideal destination for you, a perfect intermediary of beaches.

Martins de Sá

Located in Paraty, Martins de Sá is one of the secret places in Rio de Janeiro. With calm waters and an environment conducive to relaxing, you can get in touch with nature and respect it above all.

If you want to experience a little more of this calmness, why not try staying at a campsite?

Ilha do Japonês (Japanese Island)

Do you want to see an almost untouched paradise? The “Japanese Island” is one of the places to visit in Rio de Janeiro since the waters are transparent and the waves are very calm.

The environment is super wooded, but to get there, the crossing can be done by boat or even on foot when the tide is low.

Tijuca’s Islands

Anyone can take advantage of one of Brazil’s best places to travel. The Tijucas Islands are an archipelago and are divided into three: the middle, the point, and the Alfavaca. Each has particularities, but generally, the environment is excellent for diving and stand-up paddle practices.

Cajaíba Landing

Another secret place in Rio de Janeiro is Pouso da Cajaíba beach.

The place is inhabited by a fishing village and has restricted access only by boat. For this reason, it becomes unique, almost deserted at some times of the year.

The beach is only a few meters long but offers infrastructure and is an excellent option for those who want to camp.

Serrinha do Alambari

One of the places to visit in Rio de Janeiro is Serrinha do Alambari.

The main attractions are the waterfalls of Poço do Céu and Poço do Dinossauro.

Both have very blue waters and good space to swim and take pictures. Woods surround the environment, so the trails are also part of the tours.

Vassouras

Who doesn’t love visiting historic cities?

Vassouras is one of the places to visit in Brazil because it is a preserved city, with a central church in its historical center and a railway station that goes back to colonial times.

Besides, you can also visit the coffee farms and the famous Hera Museum, a big house that preserves the history of a family of coffee growers.

São Pedro da Aldeia

One of the secret places in Rio de Janeiro that are perfect for water sports is São Pedro da Aldeia.

There you can practice activities such as kite surfing, windsurfing, and yachting, for having strong winds and calm waters on its beaches.

In addition, the region is also an area of preservation of the Atlantic Forest and has museums and a historical center in the city.

Barra da Guaratiba

Trails plus beaches: the perfect combination.

The Barra da Guaratiba is the last on our list of secret places in Rio; despite being a more remote region, it has great attractions, such as the main beach Barra de Guaratiba, with calm waters and great for practices of Stand Up.

However, if you want to visit wild beaches, be prepared to face some rocky paths.

Ultimately, all the paths are worth it because of the panoramic views.